Shareholder suit seek to dissolve Huna Totem trust
JUNEAU (AP) -- A Juneau Superior Court judge will decide whether shareholders of Huna Totem Corp. should be allowed to opt out of a $42 million trust. Shares in the trust are worth $350 each, so shareholders with the typical 100 shares would get $35,000 if they could cash out.

Chums dismal, but Yukon kings are bright spot
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- A dismal summer chum salmon subsistence run on the Yukon may prove a record low, but chinook harvests are better than anticipated, a federal fisheries biologist said Wednesday.

Anchorage mayor sues redistricting board
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Mayor George Wuerch sued the Alaska Redistricting Board on Wednesday on behalf of the municipality of Anchorage, with the help of Republican Party officials and without the agreement of the Anchorage Assembly.

House committee approves ANWR drilling bill
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- A bill that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling cleared its first congressional committee Tuesday, but the measure's future is far from certain.

Investigators near site of Arctic Rose
ABOARD THE OCEAN EXPLORER (AP) -- Approaching the scene of the nation's worst commercial fishing disaster in 50 years, three Coast Guard investigators planned to each drop a wreath into the Bering Sea where 15 fishers perished when the Arctic Rose sank April 2.

Strong quake felt in Kodiak
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- A strong earthquake centered 90 miles south of Kodiak was felt on the island Thursday morning.

Several cities challenge new redistricting map
JUNEAU (AP) -- A redistricting plan that would pit 20 incumbent Republican legislators against each other and change the representation of cities and boroughs across the state is headed for the courtroom.

BP official says northern gas line route is probably cheaper
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- A proposed natural gas pipeline from the North Slope through the Beaufort Sea would likely be cheaper to build and cost less to operate than a pipeline that follows the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, a BP executive said Wednesday.

Missile defense office announces Fort Greely work
FAIRBANKS (AP) -- The Pentagon's missile defense office has told Congress that the military plans to issue a contract for up to $9 million of construction work at Fort Greely. The work could proceed within 30 days.

Energy expert warns Alaskans to adopt Canada-friendly attitude
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- Prices should remain high enough in the near future to bring Alaska natural gas to market, but the project could be derailed unless Alaskans do a better job of negotiating a pipeline route with Canada, an energy consultant said Tuesday.

Prudhoe Bay worker dies
BARROW (AP) -- North Slope Borough police are investigating the death of a worker at Prudhoe Bay.

Biologists close chum fishing on Yukon ahead of the fish
FAIRBANKS (AP) -- The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has decided not to open fall chum salmon fishing in the Lower Yukon River and its drainages, and it's likely the rest of the river will be closed as well before the fish arrive.

Safety board blames fatal crash on pilot's decision
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- The National Transportation Safety Board has concluded that the August crash of a small plane that killed three people returning to a remote lodge on the Alaska Peninsula was caused by the pilot's decision to fly into a mountain pass in marginal weather.

Bagwell hits for cycle; Bonds rips Nos. 41, 42
HOUSTON -- Jeff Bagwell hit for the cycle, homering and doubling in an eight-run fifth inning as the Houston Astros outslugged St. Louis 17-11 Wednesday night in the highest-scoring game at Enron Field.

Tigers, Yankees split doubleheader
DETROIT -- Roger Cedeno couldn't quite win the opener with his legs, but he homered twice and drove in six runs in the second game to give the Detroit Tigers a split of a day-night doubleheader with a 12-4 win over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.

House panel OKs ANWR drilling bill
ANCHORAGE (AP) -- A bill that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling cleared its first congressional committee Tuesday, but the measure's future is far from certain.

Tesoro, BP reach $677 million deal
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) -- Tesoro Petroleum Corp. said Tuesday it has agreed to buy two oil refineries and 45 service stations in Utah and North Dakota from BP PLC for $677 million.

Lakes, rivers vital to fishery
At the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office on Kalifornsky Beach Road near Soldotna, a team of fisheries biologists works to balance today's demand for salmon catches with tomorrow's sustainable yields.

Against the current
It seems impossible anymore to talk to an upper Cook Inlet commercial fisher without hearing how Gov. Tony Knowles and his Board of Fisheries appointments have destroyed the industry.

Nikiski woman is united with her sister for the first time in Alaska
Five years ago Robyn Sullens went to the Internet in search of her biological parents, "It was like putting pieces of a puzzle together, but when I was successful and found my biological mother, she told me she had a daughter, so until then I never knew I had a sister," said Sullens.

Outdoors
During a recent conversation with visitors from Wisconsin I was told, "I want to catch a Rainbow Trout." So I took my guest to a little Lake on the Skilak loop. I don't want to tell you my little hot spot for small Rainbows for fear you will have all your relatives and visitors fishing in my quiet little spot making it too noisy for this grumpy ol' fishermen.

Commercial harvest up; prices down; outlook hazy
The peak of the Cook Inlet sockeye salmon run seems to be here. Thirty-thousand of the red fish entered the Kenai River on Sunday and Monday, 40,000 Tuesday and another 40,000 or more were expected Wednesday, according to state figures.

Art Briefs
Discussion, book signing planned in KenaiRetreat planned for storytellersSoldotna museum open for summerSeward gallery plans special exhibitMusicians sought for festival

When Words Collide
The sun was shining, the fish were running and a bunch of Alaskans opted to spend a Friday evening listening to poetry? In Kenai?

What's Happening
Best BetEvents and ExhibitsEntertainmentIn the FutuerDown the RoadAnchorage EventsFilms

Long schedule has little room for expansion
Television can't get enough of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Race fans can't get enough, either. And racetracks across the country are lobbying for their share of the future.

New England 300
Where: New Hampshire International Speedway's 1.058-mile oval with 12-degree banking in the corners and 1,500-foot straightaways in Loudon, N.H.

It's a Tough Job
It used to be easy for Ray Evernham: Turn a wrench, change a shock and turn Jeff Gordon loose.

Organ donation: life after death
Today is the one-year anniversary of her husband's passing, but Gertrude Frostad finds solace in knowing that through the donation of his corneas, his death helped others live.

Joint pipeline effort needed
ANCHORAGE -- Prices should remain high enough in the near future to bring Alaska natural gas to market, but the project could be derailed unless Alaskans do a better job of negotiating a pipeline route with Canada, an energy consultant said Tuesday.

Private prison pitched to chamber
Cornell comes to Kenai. Two spokespersons for the company selected by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly to promote and plan the state's first private prison were on hand at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce's noon luncheon on Wednesday to give a presentation about the company and answer questions from the public.

What others say
The news of last Wednesday seems almost laughable now. The front page headline read, ''Hospital funds said key to fort survival.'' But we shouldn't count those funds before they're hospital rooms and beds.

What others say
Urging Medicare recipients to use drug discount cards to save money on prescriptions could buy President George W. Bush some time on the politically volatile issue of high-cost medication. It may even save seniors a little money. What it won't do is eliminate the need for a real -- and really costly -- Medicare prescription-drug benefit.

Around the Peninsula
Bagley to speak at Nikiski chamber todaySlikok Creek to be discussedWilderness survival class plannedFarmer's market set for SaturdayPublic can meet, question judges at Monday forumProgress Days participation still soughtCommunity celebration scheduledOne set of 'Safe Sitter' classes remains

Bomar takes Wells Fargo skins game
In many ways, the fate of $2,000 came down to two pieces of wood -- one placed by nature, the other stacked by man -- Tuesday at Birch Ridge Golf Course.

Webber still a King
After a delayed start, the NBA free agent market opened Wednesday with Chris Webber deciding to stay with the Sacramento Kings.

Dragila vaults to record
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Michael Johnson and Stacy Dragila set records at the DN Galan meet Tuesday, under different emotional circumstances.

A devil of a climb
CHAMROUSSE, France -- Lance Armstrong hunched over the handlebars, lowered his head and gritted his teeth as he powered up the steep mountain climb from Grenoble to Chamrousse.

Sports Briefs
Summer Biathlon returns to AnchorageJohnnie on the spot at Alaska Raceway parkNorman withdraws, citing death of friend

Birch Ridge Report
The sun was shining brightly and it was a beautiful day for those family members playing in the Family Affair Tournament on Saturday.

Up in the air
LONG GROVE, Ill. -- Michael Jordan, smoking a cigar, joking with the crowd and looking fit and trim, has a timetable for deciding whether he'll return to the NBA.

Kenai Golf Report
The course is greening up and the new seed on the greens is beginning to show up in the grid-like pattern the slit seeding leaves.

Armstrong moving on up
L'ALPE D'HUEZ, France -- Lance Armstrong took a commanding step toward a third straight Tour de France title, bluffing his rivals Tuesday to win a grueling climb in the French Alps.